Device for controlling the flow of fluid



April 5, 1932. R. A. DAmEY DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF FLUID Filed Feb. 3, 1930 Z HI- 1 d U U Patented Apr. 5, 1932 UNITED sTATEfs ROY A. BAILEY; or TAFT, CALIFORNIA 'DEVIOE"FOR"CO1\TTROLLING THE F'Low or FLUID Application filed February 3, 1930. Serial No. 425,584.

Thistinvention'relates to a device for controlling-the flow of fluid and relates more particularly to aidev-icefor controlling the fl'ow er anxoil well. Frequently oil flows from a Well under veryl'high pressures making it necessary to control or: regulate the flow. Devices commonly known as flow nipples or flow beans are usedtojreduce orcontrol the rate of flow from-wells flowing'or producing from natural causes where the pressuresarehigh. The oil flowing from wells under high pressure-usuallycarries with itsome sand Whichquickly cuts out and enlarges the bores or passages of the usual types'of fiow nipples and necessiitatestheir early replacement. The common iorms ofvalves cannot be employed in such instanceswas their :gates or flow-controlling vparts areiquicklyworn orcut out through the action of the fluid and the sand carried by the oil and are made inoperative.

.It iseageneralv object of the present inven-,

ation to provide a practical and effective mechanism for controlling and regulating the flow v of oilfrom anoilwell, or the like.

It is an object ofthis invention to provide a flow controlling device including a nipple mountedso that it can be easily and quickly removed for replacement,

'A- further object of the invention is to provide a simple eflective and improved form of nipple, for a flowcontrolling device.

Another obj ect of; the. invention is to provides. valve mechanism or flow nipple that is operable :to varythe flow from a well and 'which may be operated to compensate for partially worn or cut outflow controlling parts without removing such parts from the device and without stopping the flow.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned in which the flow controlling parts present relatively small surfaces to the abrasive action of the sand or solid matter carried by thefio-wing fluid.

It isanother object of the invention to .provide'a device of the character mentioned in which the parts subjected to the abrasive action \of the sandmay be quickly .and easily replaced.

controlling element.

'tion.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a flow controlling device of the character mentioned which embodies .means for indicating the position or setting of the flow A further object of the invention is to provide' a device of the character mentioned in which the flow controlling parts. which directly. control or restrict the flow of fluid are of simple formation and are faced'wi'th hard Q wear-resisting material.

Other objects and features of the invention will be best and more fully understood from the following detailed description of typical forms andapplications of the invention, throughout which description reference is had to the accompanyingwdrawings,

. Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a typical ar- 'rangem-ent of control devices and fittings at 7 tional view taken 'asindicated by line 33 .7

on Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged top orwpzlan view taken as indicated by line 4l-4l on ig.

'2, and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal detailedsectional View of another formof thefinven- In Fig.1 of the drawings I'haveshovvn'an arrangement of conduits, "control devices and fittings at the top ofa' well casing which 7 arrangement may be consideredtypical of constructions found on producing :oil wells Q35 and which is commonlytermedia' Christmas tree.- The arrangement shown in the draw-- ingsincludes theupper endofa well-caper head 10 a gate valve 11,.immediately'above the head 10, a cross fitting-1'2 above the i valve, a gate valve 13 connected with the upper arm of the cross 12, valves Hand-15 connected with the two opposite horizontal outlets or side arms of the cross-1 2, flow-controlling devices connected beyond the valves? 14 and 15, and other parts commonto arrangement of this class. v The device provided by this invention :is primarily intended to be mounted in: a conduit connected with a producing oil -well,ia00

"flow through the body.

and throughout the following detailed description I will consider a device provided by this invention in an'arrangement of parts such as I have described above. It is to be understood that the flow controlling device provided by this invention may be employed Wherever it is desirable tocontrol the flow of fluid under high pressures and that it can be arranged in various combinations and manners other than I have shown for purpose of illustration.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1,2, 3 and at of the drawings "includes, generally, a body 16 adapted to be connected with a supply conduit, as through a control valve 1 1 or 15, a flow bean or nipple 17 removably mounted in a passage in the body to restrict the passage to reduce the flow of fluid through the body, a tubular guide or member 18 detachably clamping. the nipple '17 in thepassage of the body,a valve stem 19 extending through the member 18, a valve head 20 carried by the stem 19 adapted to cooperate with the nipple 17 to control the flowof fluid through the nipple, and means 21 for indicating or determining the rate of I The body 16 maybe in the general form of a high-pressure cross or T. In the case shown in the drawings the body is in the form of a high-pressure cross having four 7 communicating outlets or passages 22, 23,

- The outlet or passage'2t which is 24 and 25. I have shown a nipple or conduit 22 connecting the valve 14 andthebody. opposite thepassage 22 may be closed bya suitable bull plug 26. The is closed by a valve fitting or cap 27 which carries the valve stem 19, as will be hereinafter described. The passage 23 of the body opposite the passage 25 is provided with a reduced portion which provides an inwardly facing shoulder 28. An outlet condult 29 7 may beconnected with the passage 23.

The nipple 17 is in the nature of a flow bean or flow nipple and is mounted in the passage 23 of the body to reduce the rate of flow of fluid through the passage. The nipple 17 is an elongated tubular part arranged longitudinally in the passage23 and having a cenl tral longitudinal passage or opening 30. The diameter of the passage 30 is preferably comparatively small, its size depending upon the conditions under which the device is to operate. 'Thenipple17 is preferably comparatively long,

and in the form of the invention illustratedin the drawings the inner end 31 of the nipple is adj acent the inner end of the passage 23., The inner end 31 of the nipple 17 is made'flat, and'is faced with abrasion-resisting material. The nipple; 17 slidably fits the reduced portion of the passage '23 and is provided with a radially projecting flange 32. The outer side of the flange 32 seats against the shoulder 28 of the passage passage 25 of the body ceives the inner end portion of the nipple 17 and the end of the member 18 clamps against the flange 32. In accordance with the invention the member 18 extends completely through the passage 25 of the body and extends into the cap 27 The walls of the member 18 are cut away adjacent the inner end of. the nipple 17 to provide two diametrically opposite openings The openings 33 may be comparatively long and are arranged or positioned opposite the passages 22 and 24- of the body. The openings 33 terminate adjacent the inner end of thenipple 17. Two diametrically opposite openings 34-. are provid- V ed through the walls of the member 18 adjacent its outer end. The openings 34 are provided toreceive a suitable ,tool or wrench for turning the member.

The cap- 27 may be screw threaded into the passage 25 of the body and is provided to carry the valve stem 19. The cap 27 projects outwardly'from the body 16 and is provided in its inner end or interior with a. socket or opening 35. An inwardly projecting part 36 is provided on the cap 27. The part 36 extends into the member 18 which projects into Y the opening 35 of the cap 27.

The valve stem 19 extends through an opening 37 in the cap27 and projects into the interior of the body. The stem 19 is screw threaded through the part 36 and proj ects outwardly from the outer end of the cap 27. A suitable operating handle 44 may be attached to the stem 19. A packing gland 38 is provided inthe opening 37 to seal around the valve stem 19. A nut 39 is screw threaded on the cap 27 to compress thepackingof the gland 38. The-nut 39-is provded-with a flat upper or outer face 40. V p w The valve head 20 is carried atthe' inner end of the stem 19 and is provided to cooperate with the inner end of the nipple 17'to control the flow of fluid through the passage' 30 of the nipple-17. The valve head 20 may be removably secured to the stem 19 in any suitnut 41 is provided to lock the valve head 20 inposition. The head 20 is preferably of round cross-sectional configuration and is slidably guided by the inner walls ofthe ing material. The face or end 42 of the. head 20 is normally spaced from the face or inner end 31 of the nipple 17 and may be operated able manner. In the preferred form of the f invention the head 20 is screw threaded onto the inner end of the valve stem 19 anda lock.

agssfagas's In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. of the drawings the invention embodies a body 60 in the form of a cross or T, a nipple 61 carried in one of the ports or passages of the body, a flow bean or flow nipple 62 arranged in the nipple 61, and a stem or clamping member 63 for. clamping the flow nipple 62 in position. In this form of the invention the body 60 may be a common form of high-pressure T having a passage or port 64 to receive a conduit 65 from a well, a passage 66 closed by a cap or bull plug 67, and a passage 68. The nipple 61 is arranged between an outlet pipe 69 and the body 60 and is screw threaded into the passage 68 of the body so that it becomes in efiect a part of the body. In accordance with this form of the invention the passage of the nipple 61 is provided with a reduced portion 70 which pro-'- vides an inwardly-facing shoulder 71. The flow bean or nipple 62 embodied in this form of the invention may be of the same character as the nipple 17 described above. The nipple 62 may have a central passage 7 2 of reduced diameter to limit or reduce the flow of fluid through the nipple 61. A flange 73 is provided on the nipple 62 and is seated against the shoulder 71.

The stem 63 is provided at its inner end with an enlarged tubular part 74 which is screw threaded into the inner end of the the shoulder 71. The stem 63 has an elongated part 75 which projects outwardly from the part 74: into the bull plug 67. A transverse opening 7 6 is provided through the part 75 opposite the passage 64; of the body and extends into or communicates with the open ing of the tubular part 74. The part 75 of the stem 68 is made polygonal so that it is adapted to be engaged by a wrench or tool for turning the stem when the bull plug 67 is removed.

It is believed that the operation of the two forms of the invention described above will be fully understood from the foregoing detailed description. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and i of the drawings, flow from a well or from the cross 12 passes through the valve i l and into the body through the passage 22. The valve head 20 may be positioned to permit the desired flow of fluid into the passage of the nipple 17. The velocity of the fluid entering 65 the passage 30 may be efieotively controlled by means 6f: the valveiheadQO. iT heipassage 30 of'the flowinipple .17, being. of reduced diameter, limits'or reduces the fiow oflthe fluid into'the outlet conduit 29. .Thehard abrasion=resisting material facing the nipple 17 and the valve head20 "preventsthese parts 'frombecoming excessively'worn under the usual conditions of use. As-the passage :30 of the flow nipple 17 becomes enlarged through use of the device and the flow of W5 fluid throughthe passage is not properly con- .trolled or reduced, the valve head *20 may :be operated-toward the en'd 3lzof the nipple to .control the rate of fiow into the passageBO. The hull plug 26 may be removed so that-the valve 'head'QO and the inner end otthe' nipple 17 may be examined to determinetheir condition; The nipple- 17 may-be removed from the body by removing the cap 127 and loosening or removing the member 18. The valve 585 head 20 and the nipple-17 are of simpleconstruction and are'easily"replaced. The cooperating faces 31 and 142 ofthe nipple :17

and the valve head'QO' present-comparatively small wearing surfaces and, being :Eacedwith 1 hard material, :are not "quickly cutout.

In the: form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings the flow nipple 62 is similar to the nipple 17- and is quickly and easily removed by removing'the bullwplug 95 67' and unscrewing thestem 63. I

Having described only typical preferred forms of my invention, Ido not wish to limit myself tothespeci'fic details set:forth,-but wishtoreserve to myself any changes or-variations that may appearfto those-.skilled-in the art or'fall withinthe scope of the fellowing claims.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. Adev'ice of the character described in- "eluding, a body having'aifluidpassagm-a-renipple 61 and clamps the flange 73 against movable flow nipple inthe passageya removable cap on the body, a stem threaded through the cap, a valve headon' the-stem opposing-an endof the nipple, and a guide for the'head -hc screw threaded into 't-he passa'ge to hold-the tnipple in the passage.

:2. Adevice of'thepha-racter described-in eluding, a body having a: fluid passage with-a shoulder, a fiow nipple in' the passage, a

flange on the'nipple, a detachablecap on the body, a'stem threaded through the cap, a

valve head on'the stem having aside opposinganend of the nipple, and a .member guid- 1 ing the valve head-and screw threaded into '120 V the passage to hold the-flange against'the shoulder.

'bodyyafstem threaded through the cap; a

valve head on'the stein havinga side opposing an end' of the nipple, and a' memberguiding the valve head .and screw threaded into the i ing part against the shoulder, the member having an opening beyond the inner end of the nipple, and an extension extending to a pointaccessible from the exterior of the body.

5. A device of the character described 'in- V eluding, a body with opposite openings, one

carrying a nipple, the other carrylng a removable cap, and a member screw threaded into the body for retaining the nipple in the opening, the member having an extension covered by the cap.

6. A device of the character described including, a bodyhaving afluid passage, a removable nipple in the passage, a movable valve head in, the body opposing an end of the nipple, and a member screw threaded into the body for guiding the valve head and for retaining the'nipple in the passage.

7. A device of the character described in.- cluding, a body having a passage extending completely through it and a lateral passage connecting with the said passage intermediate its ends, there beinga shoulder in one end I part of the said passage, a removable nipple in the said end part of the passage, and a member screw threaded into the said end part ofthe passage to retain the nipple against said shoulder, the member projecting through the other end part of the said passage to be accessible from the exterior of the body.

8. A device of the character described infor passing fluid, and an extension on ,the member extending into an opening in the body to'be accessible from the exterior of the body, and a removable cap closing the openingin the body and covering the extension.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 20th day of J anuary, 1930.

eluding, a body in the form of a cross fitting having two intersecting passages, there being a shoulder in one end part of one of the'passages, a removable nipple in thesaid end part of the said passage, a valve head opposing an end of the nippleand adjustable toward and away from the end of the nipple, a member guiding the valve head and retaining the nipple againsttheshoulder, the member extending through the other end part of the said passage to be accessible from the exterior of the body, the said end of the nipple and the valve head being accessible through one end part of the other passage, and a removable plug normally closing the said end part of the said other passage.

9. A device of the character described including, a body having two communicating V fluid passages, a shoulder in one of the passages, a nipple in the said passage, a projecting part on the nipple, a lnember threaded into the inner end of the said passage and retaining the projecting part against the shoulder, the member having an opening communicating with the inner end of the nipple ROY A. DAILEY. '7 

